Going to the range w/ multiple guns

[lebshiff21]

Went to the range yesterday w/ 3 different guns:

GP-100 6" .357
EAA Witness P .45ACP
Bersa Thunder .380

I found it difficult to switch back and forth... should I have gone 50 rounds through each all at once? I'd do a clip or two in the Bersa, switch to the Witness, then some in the Ruger. It was also my first session w/ the Witness, and since I didn't get very accurate w/ it, I'm not sure I like it; but could it have been due to "bouncing" between guns? I'm relatively new w/ handguns, so any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Rob1035]

I once took my 22/45 (with trigger mods), a stock G19, and a stock MKIII BHP to the range. Shot the 22 first, put it down. Started switching off between the BHP and G19, and couldn't really hit crap with either. Went home disappointed. At subsequent visits, when shooting one or the other (and definitely not the hair trigger-no recoil Ruger), I shoot much better. They are different enough to throw off my skills (which arent great to begin with).

 

[orangeninja]

This is why juggling platforms without a LOT of practice is dangerous. For instance, I have recently began to carry Glock off duty and still have to carry Sig on duty, this has caused me to make at least 2 to 3 trips to the range a month to shoot each. Otherwise I really start to suffer with one or the other.

 

[10-Ring]

I have stopped taking several guns at once. I will normally bring my POS 22lr revolver & current house gun & a few hundred rounds of ammo. I start w/ the housegun and then use the wheelgun to practice more of my basic shooting technique.

 

[Technosavant]

It's pretty rare when I don't take more than 1 gun.

If doing pistol work, I always begin with my Ruger 22/45 (.22LR). I find that "warming up" with it helps my accuracy later on. Then, I'll move to my 1911 (.45 ACP), and fire off 50ish rounds; enough for my accuracy to improve and then begin to fall off.

Occasionally, I take the .44 Mag. For obvious reasons, this one is saved for last. After a few rounds out of it, I am usually done with shooting for the day.

I have never noticed problems going from one gun to another.

 

[Steve in PA]

Yeah, several guns can be a pain, although I try to limit the handguns when I go. However the other day when I went shooting I took my Sig P-220, M1 Garand, 1903A3, Swiss K-31 and Kar 98k

 

[campbellcj]

I've never -not- taken more than one gun; but I usually progress thru them one by one starting with the most challenging/powerful. Typically 50-150 rds apiece. Hopping between platforms and calibers every few rounds does not seem fun or productive IMO.

 

[esskay]

Anyone who has a HK P7 knows that you HAVE to take at least one other gun! Damn thing gets too hot to hold after 50 rounds or so!

 

[AirForceShooter]

There is something to be said about the axiom "beware the man with one gun"

AFS

 

[Dollar An Hour]

There is something to be said about the axiom "beware the man with one gun"

Good point above about switching platforms. I find it unnerving to shoot a DA .357 revolver and a SA pistol at the same session. Jack of all trades master of none sort of thing.

 

[Kramer Krazy]

The wife and I usually take multiple guns to the range. I doubt we've ever gone with anything less than three, but normally, we take 4-8 different ones. I recall a month or two ago, we took a Mk II with 5.5" bull barrel, S&W 5903, S&W 629, Colt Anaconda 44 mag, Colt Officers ACP, Ruger Vaquero 357, and a Colt Detective Special. Just this past Friday, we took a S&W 22A-1, Glock 19, Ruger Mk II, and the Colt Officers ACP. We usually don't have a problem switching back-and-forth, but we've done it for over a year.

 

[Standing Wolf]

I rarely take more than two guns to the range at a time: they take too long to clean afterward.

One of the ways I combat flinch is to shoot ten rounds of center fire, then ten of .22 long rifle, then ten more of center fire, et cetera.

 

[HSMITH]

Being able to switch platforms is about proficiency with handguns.

Last range trip I was shooting a 1911, Glock, CZ-75, Buckmark, M19 S&W, Taurus PT99, and whatever my buddies handed me. No problems at all.

I would suggest that the fast track to being able to shoot anything you pick up is dedicated DA revolver shooting. Forget your revolver has a SA capability, and shoot it DA exclusively. You will learn to align the sights and stroke the trigger without disturbing them, after that it really doesn't matter what you pick up.

 

[middy]

I don't seem to have this problem. Whether I'm shooting my G26 or my single-six or both together, my performance is uniformly mediocre.

 

[Moonclip]

I've heard it is best to bring just a couple of guns and I sort of agree. It really is best to get used to one type of gun platform and get good with it, no problems remembering manual of arms under stress, improved muscle memory,ect.

However,I enjoy evaluating,shooting,and owning a variety of guns so I rarely follow this advice.

I've brought up to 20 guns on a trip to the range!